More than 8,700 feral pigs have been culled in the Murray and Riverina regions since the $13 million 2023/24 Feral Pig Program began in October 2023.
The NSW Government is continuing to build on the success of the program, with an additional $13.1 million committed to tackling feral pig and pest numbers across the state over the next 12 months.
Since the start of the program, the Murray region has controlled almost 2,500 feral pigs, which has a focus on upskilling local landholders to use automated trapping technology.
Using cameras and motion sensors, the automated trap technology is a time-efficient and easy method for farmers to control feral pigs, allowing them to remotely activate traps using their phones from anywhere at any time.
From Wagga Wagga, to Griffith, Riverina landholders have also played a large role in the program, controlling more than 6,000 feral pigs across the region.
The program has resulted in a knockdown of pig numbers across the Murray and the Riverina and Local Land Services will continue to support and encourage farmers to participate in coordinated control programs with their neighbours to keep tackling feral pigs.
Since October 2023, across the Murray and Riverina regions:
- 2,464 pigs culled in the Murray region
- 6,280 pigs culled across Riverina
- 723 properties involved
- 8 information and training sessions held
- 881 one-on-one consultations, and
- 1,834kg of free bait issued to landholders.
A key part of the program has been providing farmers and landholders with the tools, education and support to get on top of the problem.
More than 112,888 feral pigs have been culled across the state since October 2023, with almost 8 per cent of these having been culled in the Riverina and Murray regions.
Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said:
"The NSW Government is committed to continuing the success of this program to ensure feral pig numbers continue to come down here in the Murray and Riverina.
"I want to thank farmers across the Riverina and Murray, who have worked with LLS biosecurity officers to reduce the impacts of these pest animals.
"It's been a huge, shared effort, but we still have work to do. That's why we've committed a further $13.1 million to build on the successes so far.
"I encourage landholders to continue to participate in these control programs. Landholder participation is essential to maximising the effectiveness of a program.
Colin McCrabb, Wanganella farmer, 45km north of Deniliquin, said:
"Since having the opportunity to participate in the Feral Pig Program and learn the best methods to monitor and trap feral pigs, I now have the skills to protect my property from these pest animals.
"In the drought feral pigs were taking lambs and ewes, and there's destruction of pasture and irrigation, but the biggest fear is biosecurity, with the transmission of disease including brucellosis.
"The last time I grew rice, as it matured, the pigs set nests up in the middle of the crop, just destroying it.
"Through the program, Local Land Services assisted us with technology, advice and information about trapping, baiting and providing 1080. They also let us know when other people were baiting so we could co-ordinate with neighbours who were also trapping.
"Every feral pig that is not here is a good feral pig. We should all do what we can. I couldn't believe how many were there."
